Work/Life Programs and Policies

Work/Life programs and policies are designated to create a more flexible and responsive work environment supportive of an employee's commitment to community and home.

Community Service Leave

In recognition of the state's diverse needs for volunteers to support schools, communities, citizens and non-profit organizations, and recognizing the commitment of state employees to engage in volunteer service, paid time up to 24 hours per year may be granted for:

Involvement in a child's school

Tutoring and mentoring in schools (36 hours per year)

Volunteer activity in the schools or a community service organization

Volunteering in a state public university, community college system or state agency provided that it is outside of the employee's normal duties

Lactation Support Program

Assists working mothers with the transition back to work following the birth of a child by providing lactation support. This support allows a nursing mother the private space and reasonable break times to express breast milk periodically during the work day.

Voluntary Shared Leave

Allows employees to donate leave to an employee who has been approved to receive voluntary shared leave because of a medical condition of the employee or a member of the employee's immediate family, that will require the employee's absence for a prolonged period of time.

Family Illness Leave

Provided for an employee to care for the employee's child, parent or spouse where that child, spouse or parent has a serious health condition. It is not provided for the employee's illness. An eligible employee is entitled to up to 52 weeks of leave without pay during a five year period. An employee may elect to cover some or all of the period of leave taken by using vacation, bonus, sick, voluntary share leave or leave earned under the compensatory time off policy. Family Illness Leave is an extension of the benfits provided under the Family and Medical Leave Policy.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

A free and confidential Employee Assistance Program is provided to assist employees in identifiying professional resources and counseling services for a variety of personal and medical concerns. To support the health, well-being and productivity of faculty and staff, the university has contracted with ComPsych EPA services to provide assistance to employees and their dependents.

Academic Assistance Programs

A tuition waiver program is available to eligible employees to take two free classes per academic year at one of the university system institutions. When taking a tuition waived class at UNCW, employees are invited to participate in the free textbook loan scholarship program.

The Application/Orientation Fee Waiver program is available to eliglible employees and their dependents when applying for classes at UNCW.

College Savings Plan (529 Plan)

North Carolina's National College Savings Program is designed to help make college affordable for every student and family. Contributions are made on an after-tax basis and may be made through payroll deduction.

Employee Discounts

The UNCW employee discount program is a partnership with local, statewide and national businesses that offer discounts or other incentives to UNCW employees. To use the program, show your UNCW ID card when making a purchase. Participating vendors are found at http://www.uncw.edu/hr/HelpfulResourcesEmployeeDiscount.html

Helpful Links

Your donations are greatly appreciated and help us to increase the support for students, faculty, academic programs, research, regional engagement, and global outreach to achieve excellence in all aspects of the UNCW experience.